British households could benefit from lower heat pump prices as international suppliers respond to new trade barriers imposed by the United States, according to new reporting in The i-Paper.

Manufacturers of key heat pump components, particularly those based in Asia, are expected to redirect exports towards Europe in light of recently introduced US tariffs. This shift could increase the availability of parts in the UK market, potentially easing production costs and retail prices.

The change stems from tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump, which are affecting imports from countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea. As these nations look to avoid added costs of selling to the US, they are likely to prioritise markets with strong growth potential, including the UK, where efforts to move away from gas boilers are accelerating.

Speaking to The i-Paper, industry representatives and analysts highlighted that while it is still too early to predict the full extent of the price impact, the trend may offer a financial boost to consumers. Any reduction in cost could also support the UK’s long-term aim of cutting emissions from home heating.

While experts are cautious about predicting the extent of price reductions, the International Energy Agency reveals that China holds a dominant position in the global heat pump component trade, producing 95% of the world’s heat pump compressors as of 2023. Despite potential changes in supply, leading UK manufacturers express confidence that the tariffs will not drastically hinder production costs.

Martyn Bridges, director at Worcester Bosch, told The i-Paper: “Most of the principle components required to manufacture our heat pumps come from Asia and Europe…we do not envision the costs of manufacturing our heat pumps to be [negatively] impacted by the US tariffs.”

Speaking for Kensa, David Broom said: “It’s still too early to know the full impact of the US tariffs, but with most of our supply chain based here in the UK and Europe, and no exports to the US, we don’t currently expect the tariffs will affect the price of our heat pumps.

“The best way to reduce UK heat pump costs is by creating a homegrown mass market that can leverage economies of scale in manufacturing and procuring components … Implementing this will support over 200,000 heat pump installations each year, tripling the current market, while enabling manufacturers like Kensa to cut costs.”

Image credit: Bosch